A/N: Whoa! It's another one! And its longer too! And also, the next chapters is one of my favorites:) Alright, I should be able to continue publishing this weekend, but I can't keep any promises!
Charles Xavier woke up at 5:30 on November 17th with a long day ahead of him. He didn't dare wake up Erik, who was peacefully asleep next to him. He would just slow down all that was to be done today. Charles even sent him more peaceful thoughts, assuring him that he'd continue to sleep the next couple of hours.
Charles pulled himself out of bed and got dressed for the day. Meet me downstairs in 10 minutes he projected to everyone else in the house. He received a few mental groans, but nothing more.
He was in the kitchen, already eating his toast and drinking his favorite tea, when Sean entered the room. "Aw, man. Am I the first one down?" Charles ignored the comment and continued to eat his toast. By 5:50, everyone besides Erik was down in the kitchen.
"Why did you insist on waking us up at this ungodly hour?" Raven whined.
"Because, my dear sister, today is a special day," Charles explained. "A very special day." He could tell no one was going to ask, so he just told them. "Today, marks the day of our very own Erik Lehnsherr's…birthday."
Raven groaned, "Do you really expect us to…And what's he going to be anyways…like 40?"
"He's going to be 27, and yes, I expect all of you to help." A wave of annoyed feelings crashed into Charles. "I know you don't want to, but I don't think our friend has ever had his own birthday party. We'd hate to rob him of the experience any longer."
"Right. So, what's the plan Professor?" Alex asked, worried this could become a feelings session.
"Well, Raven, out of all of us, I think you'd be our safest bet for a birthday cake." Raven nodded. "The rest of you, decorations. And lots of them."
"And you…?" Hank asked.
"Me? Distraction. We'll go to the city for a few hours, give you guys time to…prep." Charles turned to leave the kitchen, "Expect us home around seven."
"Why exactly are we going to the city?" Erik asked as they drove in the Dreamcast.
"Surely, you know why."
"I've got my guesses, but I sure as heck hope they're wrong."
"Well, if any of them start with 'birth' and rhyme with 'day,' you've hit the nail on the head," Charles said laughing. Erik let out a small groan.
"I've never celebrated before, so why…?"
"All the more reason my friend."
"Right, so I expect that you've got this whole day planned out?"
"More or less," Charles said, smiling.
"Thank-you! Oh, thank-you so much my boy," the man in rags on the street exclaimed when Charles gave him a five dollar bill.
"You know, you're a push-over sometimes," Erik said as they walked away from the man who was still jumping with excitement.
"What are you talking about? He had a wife and three kids to feed! I did the proper thing and gave…"
"For all you know, that family was made up."
Charles laughed and tapped the side of his head, "Telepath, my friend."
"Whatever. You hungry?" Erik asked pointing to a hot dog cart on the sidewalk up ahead.
"Starved."
Erik held up two fingers to the man by the cart, pulling his wallet out of his pocket. Charles quickly snatched it out of his hand and grabbed for his own.
"Ah, no. It's your birthday. I'm paying." Erik rolled his eyes as Charles handed the man a dollar.
They continued to walk until Erik stopped, gazing in awe at what stood in front of them.
"Ah, yes," Charles said, stopping next to Erik. "The Brooklyn Bridge. Finished in 1883. It connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. Until 1903, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is also the first steel-wire suspension bridge."
"Steel, you say?" Erik said, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh no, don't even think about it."
"Hey, it is my birthday."
"Please don't hurt anyone. I'd hate to clean up that mess."
Erik smiled and lifted one hand into the air. One of the steel cords on the bridge began to vibrate. Charles watched as it unhinged itself from the bridge and a small piece of it broke off. As the small piece flew toward them, the longer piece reattached itself to the bridge.
"Don't worry," Erik said as he bent the small steel cord into a circle, "I left it stronger than it was before." Erik took the steel circle and put it on Charles's wrist.
"A bracelet?"
"Only for you, my little szczura laboratoryjnego."
"That," Erik said as they left a 5-star restaurant before even finishing their salads, "was not your brightest idea."
"It would have been fine if you would have behaved properly."
"It amazes me that you think I know how to behave in a restaurant like that."
"I'd love to know where you do find it appropriate to levitate a fork of salad into my mouth." Erik laughed. "You know, I'll probably never be allowed back in there again."
"Works for me," Erik said, still laughing. "I don't know what you see in those high end restaurants anyways."
"That happened to be one of my favorite 'high-end' restaurants," Charles tried to sound more angry than amused.
"Shall we try this dinner one more time?"
"What were you thinking?"
"Something a little more closer to home," Erik said, pointing to a small building labeled 'Restauracja.'
"Polish food? Really Erik?"
"Hey!" Erik cried, jabbing his thumb into his chest. "Birthday boy!"
Charles sighed, "Fine, but I don't have any clue what to get."
"You know, I'm starting to like this. You're so much easier to persuade on my birthday. If only they were more frequent."
"They only come once a year for a reason darling."
"So you've honestly never had kielbasa before?" Charles shook his head. "Gosh, what rock did you live under?"
"A British one," Charles muttered as he took another spoonful of the kielbasa and noodles dish. Their waitress came over and set more bread down on the table. "Gosh, how much bread do you Polish people eat?"
Erik ignored the comment. "I call the krunke."
"Excuse me?"
"The end of bread, stupid," Erik said. "Wow. You really know nothing about my culture. And here I was under the impression that you knew everything about me."
Charles laughed, "Yes, me too. Dessert?"
"Only if you pick."
Charles looked down at the dessert list on the table. "Right…uh, Makowiec?" Erik made a face. "Ok, no. Um, Sernik?"
"Now we're talking."
The two both ate their Cheesecake like food in silence. When they finished, Charles paid and left a tip much higher than necessary. Erik rolled his eyes and they went back out to the streets of New York.
Charles glanced at his watch. 5:17. "Ever been to Central Park?" Erik shook his head.
"Is that a hint?"
Charles grinned, "Maybe."
Erik held out one arm, "Lead the way Professor."
They sat on a bench in one of Central Park's more forested areas. "I got you something, you know…"
"Charles, you didn't have…"
"Yes I did, and you know it. It could wait for later, but I'd really prefer if you opened it now."
"Alright." Charles pulled a small rectangular box, not more than two inches tall, out of his pocket and handed it to Erik. He slowly slid off the wrapping paper, and picked the lid off the box.
Charles watched as Erik's face slowly turned more solemn. He watched him levitate a small locket in the shape of a heart out of the box.
Mama he heard Erik think to himself.
"Azazel gave it to me when he came," Charles watched tears form in his friend's eyes as he spoke. "He said Shaw used it as an example to keep people in line. Using your story to keep them in fear." He watched as Erik grasped the locket in his hand, resting his closed mouth on the same hand.
After a few minutes, Charles realized Erik wasn't going to say anything. "We should head home soon," Charles said, moving himself back over to his wheelchair. He started to move forward, then stopped and looked back at Erik. He was still sitting on the park bench.
"You com-"
"Thank-you," Erik interrupted, "for…everything."
They pulled up in the driveway at exactly 7:21. They entered through the front door, without saying a word. Charles could tell Erik was still a little off from the locket that was now around his neck.
"SURPRISE!" was shouted at them by 4 overly excited mutants. Erik's eyes shot wide open.
"Wha-"
"A party, silly," Charles whispered to him.
"I got that much," Erik muttered.
"Wow. I swear two men left here," Alex said, pointing to Erik's locket and Charles's bracelet.
"Alex, I'm sure there's a story behind them that we don't want to hear," Raven joked.
Charles looked around at the decorations. He was amazed. Amazed, and pretty sure that there were bookcases hidden somewhere under all the streamers. "Excellent work or the decorations boys. And Raven? Did you do your part too?"
"More or less." Charles and Erik both raised an eyebrow. "Come on, it's in the kitchen." The two of them followed her in the kitchen. On the counter sat a three tiered cake; the words 'Happy Birthday Erik' covering every open space.
"I did specify birthday cake, correct?"
"Yesss."
"Then why does it look like I have a wedding cake on my counter?"
"Well when you have over 12 hours to do one thing, it's easy to get carried away."
"O, Charles…" Erik said, patting him on the back. "It's fine. I love it."
The rest of the night consisted of Raven blaring her music; mostly the Beatles and Elvis. The group of boys also spent most of the time trying to talk themselves out of all of Raven's stupid party games. Most attempts failed and they were stuck playing games like Pin the Helmet on Shaw's Head and Spin the Bottle. By 12:30, the entire group was upstairs in their rooms.
Charles was reading his new book on genetics when Erik gave him what would come to change his life.
"You know, I got you something too," Erik said in a serious tone.
"You really don't understand the concept of birthdays, do you?" Charles joked. The look Erik gave him told him now was not the time for that. Erik walked over and handed him a box made of chestnut-wood.
Charles gave Erik a confused look. "Open it," Erik said, sitting down next to him.
He lifted the cover of the hinged box. Charles's eye widened. Inside was one syringe. Inside the syringe was one ounce of thick, green liquid. "I don't under- what is it?"
Erik looked him straight in the eyes, "The first of many."
So I have no idea if you have any idea what Erik's 'gift' is, but I'd love to hear predictions! I'll try not to leave you hanging to long if you don't know! Please review! You reviews all mean a lot! :)